Think before you flush

Killala Bay, spanning counties Mayo and Sligo, is renowned for its natural beauty. However, similar to other areas, increasing amount of sanitary related products are being found on beaches such as Enniscrone and Ross (Killala) on either side of the bay because of what people are flushing down the toilet.

The Clean Coasts message is simple: “Only the three Ps - pee, poo and paper - should be flushed down the toilet.”

But, in addition to the three Ps, thousands of wipes, cotton buds, sanitary products and other unsuitable items are being flushed down toilets in Ireland everyday instead of being put in the bin. This causes costly blockages in wastewater systems, ultimately leading to sewer overflows and plastic pollution in rivers, on beaches and in the ocean.

In a year when everyone has become obsessed with hand sanitisers and antibacterial wipes, it is little wonder we are being asked to stop using our toilet as our nearest bin, particularly when it comes to flushing of wipes.

Each year, thousands of tonnes of solid waste, including wipes, cotton buds, sanitary products and other unsuitable items, are taken from wastewater treatment plants in Ireland for disposal. This solid waste is removed by large screens at the beginning of the wastewater treatment process.

Unfortunately, some of this waste does not reach the local wastewater treatment plant for removal and disposal, and ends up getting into our rivers and seas.

Generally, wastewater treatment plants in Ireland have a primary discharge point which safely releases treated water back into the environment – back into our rivers and/or sea. However, there can be other discharge points along a sewer network known as storm water overflows, which may release untreated wastewater into the sea or river, especially during periods of high intensity rains and/or high volumes of rains.

This untreated waste water is diluted by rain water in the combined sewer network, and must go somewhere. The receiving water bodies can ordinarily cope with it. However, when the untreated wastewater contains other materials such as wipes, plastics, cotton buds and sanitary products, it is this waste which can end up on beaches and shorelines.

Michael Breen from the Enniscrone Tidy Towns committee is all-too-familiar with this issue. He can be seen on a daily basis walking Enniscrone beach picking up all sorts of litter.

“This year has been particularly hard with the number of storms we have encountered since January,” said Michael. “The quantity of litter I am encountering on a daily basis has increased and the type of litter which is most difficult to manage is shards of plastic.

“Plastic is now breaking up into small fragments which are near impossible to pick up. Marine litter as well as sanitary litter, plastic gloves and hand wipes are also becoming more evident along the beach.”

Michael is asking everyone to keep Enniscrone beach clean. He said: “I would ask people to enjoy the beach but to also respect it and to consider other users, especially children who play in the sand. I would also ask people to bring home all their litter and to participate in coastal clean-ups.

“People should be aware that items other than the three Ps should never be flushed down toilets – we don’t want those items on our beach. People should heed the Think Before You Flush campaign.”

The Think Before You Flush public awareness campaign aims to highlight the problems sanitary items can cause in the marine environment and wastewater systems if flushed down the toilet. The campaign is operated by An Taisce’s Clean Coasts programme and is supported by Irish Water.

The campaign invites everyone to help in making small changes in their bathroom behaviour, such as never using the toilet to dispose of wipes, cotton pads and other sanitary products. For more information, visit the Think Before You Flush page on www.water.ie website.

An Taisce’s Clean Coasts programme also runs the two-minute beach clean, noting that making a difference only takes two minutes. If you want to help in keeping your local beach or seashore clean, why not get involved and take part in your own two-minute beach clean.

Mary O’Hara, scientist with Irish Water, said she notices more and more evidence of marine litter every time she goes to the beach and seashore with her family.

She added: “The Clean Coasts two-minute beach clean is empowering as it is something everyone can do to help. It also reinforces the importance of taking individual responsibility in caring for our natural environment and reminding children that every piece of litter removed from the marine environment is a piece of litter that won’t pollute our oceans or be ingested by marine life.”